Hospitality toward immigrants is a culture in the kingdom of our re-birth, and evidence of it abounds in Scripture. Cities of Refuge in Num. 35 offer the church a relevant model of hospitality toward the immigrant and refugee. Yet, biblical aids to relearn Christian hospitality toward immigrants do not stop in the Bronze Age.
Read MoreFind part 1 and part 3 of this series. – “People are attempting to enter the country to do us harm.” “Removing borders is not loving toward my family whom I’m called to protect.” “Our church resources are limited. We can barely care for our own families; we can’t care for refugee families.” Fair concerns remain about…
Read MoreThat hand is not the color of yours, but if you prick it, the blood will flow, and I shall feel pain. The blood is of the same color as yours. God made me, and I am a man. –Chief Standing Bear, Ponca Tribe, 1879 – In the past year, the US government…
Read MoreFew words reverberate more in our churches than immigrant. The woman who sits directly in front of the pulpit each Sunday conjures the smile of her German mother who came to America after WWII. The young couple from Las Vegas who sits in the back with their baby recoil at memories of the…
Read MoreMankind. An oxymoron? A question? One part man, less parts kind, One wonders what peace there we can find … Weary … Man debates, argues, struggles, labels, Demonizes, divides, and ignores others. Are black, white, democrat, and republican the names we gave to our forgotten brothers? Weary … Driving in our steel cages,…
Read MoreIn the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two…
Read MoreDomestic violence is on the church’s radar. Perhaps this is due to the cultural moment we are living in, increased reporting from victims, or the work of the Holy Spirit. Whatever the reason, churches are paying attention to domestic violence like never before. Did you know 1 in 3 women have been victims…
Read MoreI stopped listening so much to the political noise around contemporary issues and started doing three key things that I want to tell you about in this article. They are as simple as they are largely unpracticed. Ready for them? First, I started listening to people at the heart of the “issue.” I’ll…
Read MoreAs managing editor of our Church channel, I get to work with a team of insightful, gifted writers who think deeply about God, the world, spiritual health, ministry, current events, Scripture, and so much more. As we lean into 2018, I’m pleased to look back on 2017 and share with you these most-read…
Read MoreIs it just me, or does thinking about this world sometimes leave you with such a feeling of deep sorrow that it depresses your soul and rapidly squeezes the air out of your lungs, leaving you gasping for a breath that never seems to come? These thoughts flood me every time I see…
Read MoreThe CHARIS website hosts conversations of and about Churches of Christ. In partnership with the ACU Library and the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry at Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX), the website is supported and led by the Center for Heritage and Renewal in Spirituality (CHARIS) at ACU. The Center’s mission is to renew Christian spirituality through engagement of Christian heritage, at Abilene Christian University and beyond. The views expressed on the CHARIS website are those of the various authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Abilene Christian University or CHARIS at ACU. Questions or comments about the CHARIS website can be directed to charis @ acu.edu.
2017-18 CHARIS Editorial Board:
Dr. Carisse Berryhill
Dr. Jason Fikes
Karissa Herchenroeder
Mac Ice
Chai Green
Tammy Marcelain
Molly Scherer
Dr. John Weaver
